Fruit picker



Sept. 29, 1931. A. H. PALMBusl-l FRUIT PI CKER Filed March '7, 19:50

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 PATENT OFFICE yANDREW Hi. PALMBUSH, on CONRAD, ivroiurnivaV l FRUIT PICKER Vappnea'mm 'mea Maren?, i930.. serial No. 434,099;

Y i :The object of invention is to provide a novel fruit picker by means of which fruit jon -high or'distant, branches can VVbe readily gathered; to provide a fruit 'picker which canV `:s be heldk and operated in one hand; to provide. a fruit picker/of this type having novel 4actuatingl `mechanism ,whichV will more eiii- V.ciently functionl to'operate the picking arms or vwires thanwill devices heretofore invented in this art; andy to provide fthe novelI combinatio-n and arrangementof elements disclosed inA the accompanying drawings, yin Whicln- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, a portionof the hollow rod `2 being ybroken away to show the wire 8 and a portion ofy thef tube 25 also being brokenaway to shorten the length'of the'view'; L f' isla" side elevation of my invention, 20 the handle 1, trigger 7, Vand weight member 3 being.omittedy L I ]H`"g'.` 31" is a vertical section througlrthe4 device looking toward the ring extension plate 10 from the inside thereof; i f

'- Fig. 4 i'sa section on line 4 4 of Eig. 1., and

Fig; 5 is a sectionon line ,5e-5 of Fig.`.3. i Like Characters of reference-"designate like ypin-ts;in'each ofthe severalviews;-'7,` Referring` tothe accompanying drawilgs providea licllovv handle .1, on which is @mounted a "hollow `rod 2, to the upper end of whi'chisfastened a ring extension plate 10 by means ofthe tongues ,11, bolt ,oi-screwA 12, apertured plate 13 and Vtongues 14, which profjfeetv through' the adjacent,l slotted portions of the ring extensionV plate 10 ',"and are bent over on thevback'theref,asshown'in Fig'. 3. Inyftegra'l with' or :fastened 'to ring-,extension plate 1'0` is',l afringF 20`whi'ch is provided ,with

a suitable elongated fabric" tube- (notzshown) ding() hasjan eXt'ensionZ .Y

f I 'provide,',semicireular "heavy wires22 Vwhit-ih 'function v'as fruit pickers. These wires 'have' oiitturned 4ends'2`1 and 21', which are pivotally mounted "respectively in the ring 'extension plate 10"'a`nd in the extensionl23, as shownin Figs.- 1"and 2, The ends 21 also are aiXed to the pinions 18 v'which pinions 250 m'eslr with 'the opposite racks of a doublerack y y"tral portions contact` with each other. g :spaced'aperture'sfM twhi'ch lmay be secured bar 17. TheV double, rack bar 17 is formed as an integral part of the rack bar extension 9 which is slidably mounted in the hollow rod 2, apertured plate 13 and'strap 19, as vshown in Figil. v I provide a wire 8 attached to the lower end of rack bar extension 9 and totheupper end of weightfbar 3. 'I provide a trigger v7, 'having anend 5 shaped to seat on and aiiXed to weight bar 3 and slidable in the slot 4 in '60 the lower'end of hollowl rod 2, as shown in Fig', 4, and attached to said member by suitable means, as by screw 6. I provide a metal strap 19 on ring 20 in which the upper end ofthe rack bar`17y is lslidably mounted. This "65 element, serves to keep it in proper mesh with the pinions. f 1 Y j I provide Va spring 15 interposed between the apertured plate 13 and collar 16, and'bearing against each of thosemembers to tend to cause thepickingwire's 22 to swing to their vwide open position, as shown in, Fig. 1. The collar 1 6 is affixed to the rack barv extension 9 and moves with ritto compress the spring l15 y lwhile the apertured plate113 remains st'ation- 775 ary.

f In operation, the 'fruitv picker Vis ordinarily grasped in one hand, and the triggerv V7 kis 'pri-assed bythe thumb," thereby'moving the weight bar 3'downw`a'rdly. "so

f Y The wire 8, bar 9 andrack bar 17 are simultaneously operated with the movement of the trigger 7, thereby rotating thepifn- 'ions 18 to which the ends 21 of the curved y 'picking wires '22 are afiixed or keyed, there- S5 by causing aswingingmovement of the wires '22 towards-ach other, it being possible to swingrthein easily toa point where theircen- The fruit'on being ,detached fromthe limb, glidesdownthrough the fabric tube 25. tothe hand' of the operator. who then releasesit intofa 'suitable' bag which he carrieswithfhim andwhich may be suitably` suspended by a strap ,j around his neckfor from his belt, 'the bag not lbeing' claimed asmy invention. He isjthu's able to use one hand for holding the picking apparatus and the other or free hand Lforlreceiving the fruit; thus making it possible tov work muchy more rapidly than with de- 100 vices which have a mere bag to receive the fruit.

The provision of the pinions and double rack bar produces a device which causes the fruit picking wires to swing easily in quick response to a pressure on the trigger; while the spring 15 functions to cause a quick return ofthe rack bar to its initial posltion and a consequent quick return of the fruit picking wires 22 to their wide open position, shown in Fig. 1. The fruit is conveyed down the fabric tube which is fastened by suitable means in the apertures 24 of the ring 20 and which serve to prevent bruising of the fruit when picked, the lower end of the tube being Agrasped by one hand of the operator `to stop the fruit and then allow it to drop outl through the end of the tube into the bag which he carries with him.

The phrase rack bar as used in the following claims shall be construed to cover the -rack bar proper designated 17 and the extension thereof designated 9 in the drawings. The extensions 10 and 23 are to be construed as covered and included in the term ring in the following claims, as a means for pivotallv mounting the wires or fruit picking elements 22.

iVhat I claim is: i f 1. In a fruit picker, the combination of a handle, a hollow rod, a plate affixed to the upper end ofthe hollow rod, a ring on the plate, said ring having a fabric tube attached thereto, semicircular Wires having outturncd jends pivotally mounted in extensions of the ring. opposite pinions on one end of each of the wires, a double rack bar with which each of said pinions mesh, a collar on the rack bar, an apertured plate 'affixed to the ring extension. a spring interposed between said collar and said apertured plate to tend to raise the rack bar and thus throw the fruit picking wires to an open position, a wire attached to the rack bar, a weight member to which said Wire is attached, a trigger afiixed to said weight element, the hollow rod being slotted to permit of sliding movement of the trigger.

2. In a fruit picker, the combination of a handle. a hollow rod, a plate aixed to the upper end of the hollow rod, a ring on the plate, a fabric tube attached to the ringv and of sufficient length to extend down to the free hand of the operator. semicircular wires having outturncd ends pivotaily mounted in extensions of the ring, opposite pinions on'one end of each of the wires, a double rack bar with A,which each of said pinions mesh, a collar on the `rack bar, an apertured plate aixed to the ring extension, a spring interposed between said collar and said apertured plate to tend to raise the rack bar and thus throw the fruit picking wires to an open position.` a wire attached .to the rack bar, a weight member to tvhleh sald wire is attached, a trigger affixed to said weight element, the hollow rod being slotted to permit of sliding movement of the trigger.

3. In a fruit picker, the combination of a handle, a hollow rod aiixed to the handle, a ring operatively attached to the upper end of the hollow rod, a fabric tube attached to the ring and of suiicient length to extend down to the hand of the operator, semicircular wires having outturncd ends pivotally mounted in extensions of the ring, opposite pinions on one end of each of the wires, av double rack bar with which each of said pinions mesh, a collar on the rack bar, an apertured plate adjacent the upper end of the hollow rod and in which the rack bar isjslidably mounted, a spring interposed between the aforesaid collar and the aforcsaid'apertured plate to tend to raise the rack bar and thereby operate the fruit picking wires to,

an open position, a wire attached to the rack bar, a weight member to which said wire is attached, a. trigger affixed to said weight element, the hollow rod -being slotted to permit of sliding movement of the trigger.

4. In a fruit picker, the combination of a' handle, a hollow rod affixed to the handle, a ring operatively attached to the upper end of the hollow rod, a fabric tube attached to the ring and of sufiicient length to extend down to the hand of the operator, movable members for engaging the fruit or fruit stems, said members being pivotally mounted in extensions` of the ring, opposite pinions on one end of each of the wires, a double. rack bar with which each of saidpinions mesh, a collar on the rack bar, an apertured plate adjacent the upper end of the hollow rod and in which the rack bar is slidably mounted, a

Yspring interposed between the aforesaid collar and the aforesaid apertured plate tov tend to raise the rack bar and thereby operate the fruit picking wires to an open position, a wire vatt-ached to the rack bar. a weight member to which said wire is attached, a trigger aixed to said weight element, the hollow rod being slotted to permit of sliding movement of the trigger.

5. In a fruit picker, the combination of a handle, a hollow rod, a plate aixed tothe upper end of the hollow rod, a ring on the plate, said ring having a fabric tube attached thereto, movable members for engaging the fruit or fruit stems'. said members being piv- `otallv mounted in extensions of the ring, opposite pinions on 'one end of each of the wires, a double rack bar with which each of `said pinions mesh, a collar on the rack bar,

an apertured plate afiixed to the ring `extension, a spring interposed between said collar and said apertured plate to tend to raise weight element, the hollow rod being slotted to permit of sliding movement of the trigger.

6. In a fruit picker, the combination of a handle, a hollow rod, a plate aiixed to the upper end of the hollow rod, a ring on the plate, a fabric tube attached to the ring and of suicient length to extend down to the hand of the operator, semicircular wires having outturnedends pivotally mounted in extensions of the ring, opposite pinions on one end of each of the wires, a double rack bar with which each of said pinions mesh, a collar on the rack bar, an apertured plate aiixed to the ring extension, resilient means operatively connected with the rack bar to resiliently press same upwardly to operate the fruit picking wires to an open position, a wire attached to the rack bar, a weight member to which said wire is attached, a triggerl aiiixed to said weight element, the hollow rod being slotted to permit of sliding movement of the trigger. I

7. In a fruit picker, the combination of a handle, a hollow rod, a plate affixed to the upper end of the hollow rod, a ring on the plate, a fabric tube attached to the ring and of sufficient length to extend down to the hand of the operator, semicircular wires having outturned ends pivotally mounted in extensions of the ring, opposite pinions o n one end of each of the wires, a double rack bar with which each of said'pinions mesh, a collar on the rack bar, an apertured plate af-k fixed to the ring extension, a spring interposed between said collar and said apertured plate to tend to raise the rack bar and thus throw thefruit picking wires to an open position, a wire attached to the rack bar, a

weight member to which said Vwire is ate tached, a trigger operatively connected with the wire, the hollow rod being slotted to permit of a sliding movement of the trigger.

ANDREW H. PALMBUSH. 

